THIS WEEKEND 3 May 

 

03.05.2008

Japan 114, Arabian Gulf 6 in Osaka (Asia Five Nations, Div.1)

Japan won by 112 points. I predicted Japan by 32.

 

Reviews

Japan smashed the Arabian Gulf team by a huge score, playing enterprising, controlled rugby for the full 80 minutes, never allowing the opposition into the game. It was a perfect game for Japan but this result is the worst nightmare for those working hard to bridge the gap between Japan and its Asian rivals.

http://www.rugbyjapan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=345&Itemid=1

 

2008 ASIA NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

Points: Win = 5, Draw = 3, Loss = 1, Loss within 7 points = 1 bonus, 4 tries or more = 1 bonus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASIA FIVE NATIONS

SEEDINGS: Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Kazakhstan, Arabian Gulf

26.04.2008

JAPAN

39

KOREA

17

SEOUL

 

P

W

D

L

PF

PA

DIFF

BPL

BPT

PT

26.04.2008

HONG KONG

20

ARABIAN GULF

12

AL AIN

JAPAN

2

2

0

0

153

23

+134

0

2

12

03.05.2008

JAPAN

114

ARABIAN GULF

6

OSAKA

HONG KONG

2

2

0

0

43

29

+14

0

0

10

03.05.2008

HONG KONG

23

KAZAKHSTAN

17

HONG KONG

KAZAKHSTAN

1

0

0

1

17

23

-6

1

0

2

09.05.2008

KOREA

 

ARABIAN GULF

 

DOHA

ARABIAN GULF

2

0

0

2

18

134

-120

0

0

2

10.05.2008

JAPAN

 

KAZAKHSTAN

 

ALMATY

KOREA

1

0

0

1

17

39

-22

0

0

1

17.05.2008

KAZAKHSTAN

 

JAPAN

 

INCHEON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18.05.2008

HONG KONG

 

JAPAN

 

NIIGATA

 

24.05.2008

KOREA

 

HONG KONG

 

HONG KONG

24.05.2008

ARABIAN GULF

 

KAZAKHSTAN

 

ALMATY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previews

As predicted Japan coach John Kirwan has made a number of changes to the national side in its home clash with Arabian Gulf.

http://www.rugbyjapan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=343&Itemid=26

 

“Diarmuid O’Malley, the captain of the Arabian Gulf team, credits the “vibrant” club game in the region and the inauguration of the HSBC Asian Five Nations as his reason to keep playing rugby.”

http://www.agrfu.com/

 

Previous Encounter

16.04.2006 Japan 82-9 in Tokyo (World Cup Qualifier, Asia R4, Div.1)

 

GWC Rugby Ranking: Asia Table-Japan 1st, Arabian Gulf 5th

 

Teams

 

Arabian Gulf Squad

Mark Gathercole (Dubai Exiles) Vivian Albertyn (Dubai Dragons) Manu Barry (Abu Dhabi RUFC) Diarmuid O'Malley - Captain (Dubai Dragons) Steve Huber (Dubai Hurricanes) Karl Sutcliffe (Muscat RFC) Ed Nicholas (Dubai Exiles) Dave Clark (Dubai Exiles) Sean Hurley (Dubai Dragons) Paul Beard (Dubai Exiles) Ayman Razek (Gulf Sevens) -pending medical report Stephen Cooper - Vice Captain (Dubai Exiles) Jo Czerpak (Abu Dhabi RUFC) Francois Coetzer (Dubai Exiles) Stuart Gibbs (Dubai Dragons) Jaco De Jager (Doha RFC) Graham Brown (Dubai Hurricanes) Jonathon Brookes (Dubai Exiles) Mark Simon (Abu Dhabi RUFC) Mike McKnight (Doha RFC) Fain Ferguson (Dubai Dragons) Chris Gregory (Dubai Hurricanes)

 

Coache, Wayne Marsters

 

http://www.gulfnews.com/sport/Rugby/10209799.html

 

Japan

 

1 Akira Ozaki (Suntory) Age 30, 1 test

2 Taku Inokuchi (Toshiba) 25, 3

3 Yosuke Ikegaya (Suntory) 28, -

4 Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba) 29, 25

5 Toshizumi Kitagawa (Toyota) 27, 7

6 Takashi Kikutani (Toyota) 28, 11

7 Yoshitaka Nakayama (Toyota) 25, 1

8 Takuro Miuchi (NEC) Capt. 32, 41

9 Takashi Sato (Yamaha) 26, 1

10 James Arlidge (JRFU) 28, 2

11 Hirotoki Onozawa (Suntory) 30, 40

12 Shotaro Onishi (Suntory) 29, 29

13 Yuta Imamura (Kobe Steel) 23, 15

14 Hiroki Yoshida (Toshiba) 26, 1

15 Bryce Robins (NEC) 27, 11

Replacements

16 Yusuke Aoki (Suntory) 24, 3

17 Yuta Inose (NEC) 26, -

18 Taira Sato (NEC) 26, -

19 Koji Shinozuka (Suntory) 24, 1

20 Fumiaki Tanaka (Sanyo) 23, -

21 Atsushi Moriya (Honda) 26, 5

22 Shaun Webb (World) 26, -

Coach: John Kirwan

 

http://www.rugbyjapan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=343&Itemid=26

 

Hong Kong 23, Kazakhstan 17 in Hong Kong (Asia Five Nations Div.1)

Hong Kong won by 6 points. I predicted Kazakhstan by 8.

 

Reviews

See table above

 

Previews

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=19&art_id=65285&sid=18747741&con_type=1&d_str=20080502&sear_year=2008

 

 

Previous Encounters

First meeting between these two nations

 

GWC Rugby Ranking: Asia Table-Hong Kong 2nd, Kazakhstan 4th

 

Prediction: Kazakhstan by 8 points

 

Teams

 

Ukraine 14, Moldova 9 in Chisinau (ENC 2A)

Ukraine won by 5 points. I predicted Ukraine by 1.

 

Reviews

 

Previews

 

Previous Encounters

05.05.2007 Moldova 17-16 in Kiev (ENC 2A)

1996 Ukraine 38-0 in Live (Friendly)

 

GWC Rugby Ranking: Europe Table-Moldova 15th, Ukraine 16th

 

Teams

 

Ukraine Squad

"Olympus" Kharkov - Zaliznyak I.; Ponomarenko V.; Lyubyy A.; Kolyshkin V.; Sukhikh S.; Tsapenko A.; Krasil'nik V.; M. Kravchenko; Kirsanov N.; Lomakin A. Tserkovniyy S.; Kosarev O.

"Aviator" Kiev - Yanchiy S.; Kashlyuk V.; Glinka A.; Monastyrev S.; Kos'ko Yu.; Orlov V

KPI (Epokha Polytechnic Kiev?) Sivko N.; Shidlovsky S.; Kul'gan A.;

Obolon Univ of Khlemnitsky. - Kvasnitsa O.; Bubela S.; Valyus O.;

Argo-NAU Kiev - Zadvirnyy V

 

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2713

 

Belgium 51, Netherlands 3 in Brussels (ENC 2A)

Belgium won by 48 points. I predicted Belgium by 5.

 

Reviews

 

Previews

These rugby neighbours first played each other way back in 1930.

 

Last Five Encounters

05.05.2007 Belgium 27-20 in Amsterdam (ENC 2A)

16.04.2005 Belgium 15-10 in Vise (WCQ Europe R3, Pool C)

17.03.2004 Netherlands 18-10 in Vise (Friendly)

22.02.2003 Belgium 32-25 in Middleburg (Friendly)

10.01.2001 Belgium 8-0 in Waterloo (Friendly)

 

GWC Rugby Ranking: Europe Table-Belgium 13th, Netherlands 23rd

 

Teams

 

Belgium

 

1.Christophe Debaty, 2.Thomas Dienst, 3.Alain Miriallakis, 4.Pierre Hendrikx, 5.Mathieu Verschelden, 6.Pierre Plasman, 7.Bertrand Billi, 8.Charlie Fourneau, 9.Julien Berger, 10.Kevin Williams, 11.Aurélien Decerf, 12.Thibaut André, 13.David Nemsadze, 14.Daniel Nkwasina, 15.Alan Williams

Replacements : 16.Norman Wende, 17.Jérôme Wey, 18.Jimmy Mulumba, 19.Cyril Nana, 20.Mathew Hocken, 21.Dirk Haghedooren, 22.Simon Marote

 

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2711

 

Netherlands squad

 

Allard Jonkers (C), Jason Knox, Piet-Hein Schram, Miquel van der Cruijsen, Bas Cornelisse - RC 't Gooi,

Hajo Feitsma, Jordi Bonhof, Roger Scheffer, Titus Klumper - LRC DIOK,

Joshua Friedler, Bobby Teijsse, Dominique Brandwijk - AAC,

Boudewijn de Rouw - RC The Dukes,

Koen Buseman - DRC The Pickwick Players,

Fedde Lingsma, Robert van Trigt - RC Hilversum,

Johan van Breda - Amstelveense RC 1890,

Rik Roovers - RC Etten-Leur,

Walter Rijnbeek - Oisterwijk Oysters,

Tjebbe Jehee - LSRG,

Benjamin Mast - Haagsche RC,

Anton Werth - RC Groningen.

 

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2711

 

Lithuania 48, Austria 0 in Vilnius/Kaunus (ENC 3B)

Lithuania won by 48 points. I predicted Lithuania by 54.

 

Reviews

 

Previews

It’s hard to see Lithuania losing any of its games in the run down to this pool decider. Lithuania won easily against Austria away and its hard to see Austria staging a grand comeback at this stage

 

Previous Encounters

19.05.2007 Lithuania 27-0 in Vienna (ENC 3B)

05.06.2004 Austria 23-12 in Vienna (ENC 3B)

27.10.2002 Lithuania 32-10 in Siauliai (ENC 3B)

 

GWC Rugby Ranking: Europe Table-Lithuania 20th, Austria 33rd

 

Teams

 

Lithuanian Squad

Darius Nosys (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Tomas Zibolis (RC BaltRex Siauliai)

Rokas Daknys (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Gediminas Svoba (RC BaltRex Siauliai)

Andrius Martinskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Ernestas Bartkevicius (RC Salda Siauliai)

Audrius Ramancionis (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Laurynas Tipelis (RC BaltRex Siauliai)

Kestutis Riskus (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Mindaugas Grigas (RC BaltRex Siauliai)

Donatas Streckis (RC Kursiai Klaipeda)

Edmundas Scavinskas (RC BaltRex Siauliai)

Irmantas Kukulskis (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Aleksandras Ciuchlejus (RC BaltRex Siauliai)

Justinas Vasiliauskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Kestutis Marcisauskas (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Dainius Baltrukenas (RC Rysiu statyba Panevezys)

Edvardas Zilius (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Ignas Darkintis (RC Vairas Siauliai)

Andrius Bridikis (RC Salda Siauliai)

Gediminas Cekanauskas (RC BaltRex Siauliai)

Grazvydas Bula (RC Gelezinis vilkas Vilnius)

Simon John Verbickas (Chester RUFC, England)

Head coach Anatolijus Smirnovas

 

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2712

 

Israel 20, Luxembourg 12 in Netanya (ENC 3C)

Israel won by 8 points. I predicted Israel by 2.

Reviews

 

Previews

“Kelly is back, 23 players will travel to Netaya due to the injuries of several players. Andy Thompson is still absent and Gilles Caviglia injured. “

 

Israel put up a good fight against Slovenia away last weekend which might suggest they could be a handful at home. A win to Israel would steer it clear of the relegation zone which it shares with Bosnia Herzegovina.

 

 

Last Five Encounters

20.05.2007 Luxembourg 25-16 in Cessange (ENC 3C)

29.10.2005 Luxembourg 19-3 in Cessange (ENC 3C)

01.06.2002 Luxembourg 31-19 in Cessange (FIRA B, Pool B)

03.03.2001 Israel 62-3 in Cessanage (WCQ Europe R1, FIRA Pool 2)

07.04.1996 Israel 20-12 in Herziya (FIRA B5)

 

GWC Rugby Ranking: Europe Table-Luxembourg 34th, Israel 37th CHANGE

 

Teams

 

Luxembourg Squad

Paul Sullivan (RC de Luxembourg)

Zelito Neves Dos Santos, Capt. (Walferdange DR)

Christophe Hoffmann (RC de Luxembourg)

Julian Da Col (RC de Luxembourg)

Jon Flynn (RC de Luxembourg)

Ian Doherty (RC de Luxembourg)

Samman Rezapour (?)

William Lafaysse (?)

Daniel Bunnag (?)

Stephan Lowe (RC de Luxembourg)

Cedric Hervè (Edinburgh University, Scotland)

Nigel Sharplin (RC de Luxembourg)

Emanuel Arrou-Vignod (Walferdange DR)

Loic Hervè (TYGRE, France)

Jonathan Harris (RC de Luxembourg)

Steven Speciale (Walferdange DR)

Glenn Nordahl (?)

Stuart Kelly (RC de Luxembourg)

Euan Rogers (CSCE)

Nicholas Geoffreys (RC de Luxembourg)

Stephen Knowles (RC de Luxembourg)

Anthony Whiteman (RC de Luxembourg)

Guido Chimieti (RC de Luxembourg)

Coach: Mart Davis

Source-http://www.rugby.lu/news_fiche.asp?newsID=118